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Rumor: Next gen Sony console won't play PS3 games, will have anti-rental tech

Kotaku claims an inside source has told them that the next-generation Sony console is internally codenamed the "Obris", will not be backwards compatible with PlayStation 3 titles, and will be saddled with anti-rental technology.

According to Kotaku's source, the "Obris" will feature an AMD x64 CPU and anAMD Southern Islands GPU, which would allow for a resolution of up to 4096x2160, making it more than capable of playing 3D games in 1080p.

As for the anti-rental tech, the rumor claims that gamers can either purchase the retail game on a Blu-Ray disc or have a full game download on PlayStation Network. Regardless of method of purchase, the game will be registered and locked to one PSN account. The game will require an online activation. There's no exact penalty detailed for a gamer who buys the game used or rents it, but it's speculated the game will be treated as a trial game that requires a payment to unlock or register the full game.

As for backwards compatibility, the source states that Sony won't even make an effort to make the unannounced console compatible, even via software as Microsoft did with the Xbox 360, with PlayStation 3 games. The original PS3 model featured the Emotion Chip which allowed the system to be 100% backwards campatible, even rendering PS2 games in higher resolutions.

This is not the first time Kotaku made such a claim. Last January, Kotaku stated that Microsoft's next console would have a Blu-Ray drive and anti-rental tech. That rumor was dismissed by analysts and industry executives.